Need help paying for college or for a career school? Although you might still be a couple years away from finishing high school, start learning now about your opportunities for student financial aid. Most aid comes from the federal government programs you'll read about here, which the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) office administers. For additional sources of student financial aid, click here.

Beware of scams and services that will search for financial aid money for you for a fee. A law protects you from this type of fraud (click here for more information).

Applying for student aid is FREE; that's why the application you use is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you need help completing the FAFSA, you can get that help free, too. You don't have to pay anyone for assistance.

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